A big thank you to everyone who entered the Penguin Student Design Award this year.
Congratulations to the winners and shortlisted entrants.
The 2021 winners are:
2021 Winners announced!
The details
The Student Design Award competition is open to anyone studying on a Further Education or Higher Education course – part time or full time, in any subject and at any level at the time of the deadline for entries.
- Entrants must be aged 18 or over
- The competition is not open to graphic design professionals
- Students may enter a maximum of one design in each of the three categories
See the Terms and Conditions for full details of entry requirements.
This year our three briefs were:
Student Design Award 2021 categories
Key dates
Form open for entries – Wednesday 2 December 2020
*Closing date for entries – 14.00 GMT on Tuesday 23 March 2021
Shortlist announcement – Wednesday 28 April 2021
Closing date for shortlisted student’s support materials – Wednesday 12 May 2021
Winners announced – June 2021
*We recognise that the ongoing restrictions around the Covid-19 pandemic brings many challenges to students around the world including, for many, to their studying conditions. Therefore, we are pleased to announce an extension of the deadline date for the submission of entries to 14:00 GMT on Tuesday 23 March. Please note that entries submitted after this date will not be accepted for any reason. We strongly advise that you upload your entry ahead of this date in order to allow time should you encounter any technical difficulties.
Get creative inspiration from the Student Design Award
Get inspiration from junior designers
A letter from Tom Weldon, Penguin Random House CEO
'Standout cover design is an integral part of the success of a book and Penguin Random House has created thousands of iconic book covers throughout the years. The vital role of illustrators and designers in the production of some of the world's best-loved adult and children's books has created and defined the identity of our UK publishing lists.
We value creativity and design incredibly highly, and started the Penguin Random House Student Design Award fifteen years ago to encourage the next generation of designers to use their amazing talents to help us tell our authors' stories.
I am always impressed with the quality of submissions and I look forward to seeing what this year’s talent has to offer.'
Pattern design in top banner is by previous Student Design Award winners Harry Woodgate, Sian McKeever, Toby Clarke and Bethany Rush.